Astros Fresno Recap: Grizzlies miss playoffs, finish season

The Houston Astros’ Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies missed the playoffs, but still finished with a winning season.

The Astros Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies’ season has come to an end. The team finished with a 77-65 record, falling three games shy of division winner Reno. The race came down to the final week, with Fresno needing some big wins on the road, but the team could not come through. Here is the week’s recap.

Doomed in El Paso

The Grizzlies opened a four-game series at El Paso with a 10-2 loss on Aug. 28. Starter Kent Emanuel took the loss, giving up seven runs on nine hits in five innings. Tony Kemp drove in both of the team’s runs, while Tyler White added two hits, including a double. Both are currently with the Astros.

Fresno fell short in a high-scoring affair on Aug. 29, losing 13-10. Starter Cy Sneed imploded for nine runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings. A.J. Reed hit a pair of homers, while Preston Tucker also went deep. Carlos Correa had two singles and two RBIs in a rehab game.

A 14-inning marathon went El Paso’s way as the Grizzlies fell 9-8 on Aug. 30. Starter Mike Hauschild gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings. Reed had three hits, including a homer, tying Fresno’s single-season individual record. White added three hits and two RBIs, while Reid Brignac also drove in two runs.

El Paso completed the sweep on Thursday as Fresno managed just four hits in a 5-1 loss. Starter David Martinez gave up three runs on seven hits in four innings. Brignac added two doubles, while Kemp drove in the team’s only run with a sacrifice fly.

Finishing Strong

The Grizzlies righted the ship with a 5-2 victory on Friday in the first of four games at Salt Lake to close the season. Starter Rogelio Armenteros gave up two runs on five hits in five innings to improve to 8-1. Tucker tripled and hit a two-run homer, while Drew Ferguson finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Fresno won again on Saturday in a 4-2 decision. Trent Thornton tossed eight strong innings, giving up just two runs on six hits. Ferguson doubled and drove in two, while Rico Noel and Colin Walsh added two hits apiece.

Salt Lake prevailed on Sunday, defeating the Grizzlies 10-8. The Bees’ offense torched Emanuel, as he surrendered seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits in 3.1 innings. Tucker drove in three runs, while Noel and Walsh each scored three times.

Fresno took the season finale on Monday, downing Salt Lake 9-7. Sneed took a no-decision, giving up six runs on seven hits in three innings. Reed drove in four and finished a triple shy of the cycle, while Walsh added two hits and a walk and scored three times.

Next: Astros prove why games early in the season matter

Player of the Week: A.J. Reed

Reed finished the season on a strong note, driving in 10 runs in the team’s last seven games. He added four homers and three multi-hit games in that stretch as he set a new club record for homers in a season with 34. Reed’s overall batting average leaves a little to be desired, but his power and run production have helped carry Fresno all season.

***Statistics courtesy of MiLB.com***